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What’s the Deal With Heat Rash?

Heat rash may be irritating, but the good news is that this skin condition is easily preventable.

Thankfully, heat rash isn’t among the more serious skin disorders — but with the irritation and itching, it can be one of the most annoying. Also known as miliaria or “prickly heat,” heat rash is most often seen in infants and toddlers but can also occur in adults.

Here’s what you need to know about the itchy red rash.

What Causes Heat Rash?

Although heat rash is usually associated with warm weather, this skin condition actually has little to do with the temperature. Heat rash develops when sweat glands are blocked — and people sweat all year round! In the winter, for instance, babies and young children can suffer from heat rash after being bundled or wrapped with too much clothing. Wearing tight clothing also blocks sweat glands, increasing one’s chances of developing heat rash.

Symptoms of Heat Rash

Heat rash manifests as small red bumps or spots that can sometimes be mistaken for beads of sweat. The mildest forms of heat rash affect only skin ducts in the top layer of skin, and the resulting blisters are easily broken.

The term “prickly heat” originates from the second level of severity, where the bumps become significantly more inflamed. In the worst cases, the bumps can become filled with pus. The rarest form of heat rash affects a deeper layer of skin, which causes firm, goosebump-like lesions to form on the skin’s surface.

How to Treat and Prevent Heat Rash

For the most part, heat rash doesn’t require treatment — the bumps will disappear on their own. The best way to avoid developing heat rash is to stay cool, and to avoid blocking your sweat glands with tight clothing.

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ERIKA LUCERI-JOHNSON, PA-C

DERMATOLOGY PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT

Erika graduated from the University of Florida in 2002 with her Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She then completed her Master’s of Public Health in 2005 at Florida International University, where she graduated with honors. After earning her MPH, Erika continued her education at Nova Southeastern University, where she again graduated with honors with a Master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies in 2007.

After graduation, Erika worked in pediatric dermatology at Miami Children’s Hospital for 6 years before joining Clearlyderm. She has received specialized training in pediatric dermatology, including the management and treatment birthmarks (hemangiomas, port wine stains, moles, etc), molluscum, warts, acne, rashes, eczema, etc.

ANDREA COLTON, MD, FAAD

MEDICAL DIRECTOR

Dr. Colton graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1974 and University of Miami Medical School in 1978, finishing near the top her class. After finishing a four year Dermatology residency at the University of Miami in 1983, she worked in her own dermatology practices in Boca Raton and then Delray Beach.

She is a board-certified Dermatologist and has a long, distinguished career in Dermatology. Dr. Colton has received numerous accolades, most recently being chosen in 2011, as one of the best Dermatologists in America by the U.S. News and World Report.

Dr Colton is currently on faculty at Florida Atlantic University as an Affiliate Assistant Professor of Clinical Biomedical Science in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine and is involved in the dermatology education of medical students.

Dr. Colton’s focus is on comprehensive collaborative dermatology care and works closely with dermatology nurse practitioners to create new innovative care models that will include quality improvement and benchmarks in dermatology.

Dr. Colton is married to Dr. Robert Colton and has five beautiful children and three golden retrievers. She resides in Boca Raton, Florida.